Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay

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University of Maryland University College

Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
A Military Spouse Perspective

3 March 2013

Suddenly, a car backfires and before you can even complete the involuntary reflex action of turning toward the sound, you are pushed on the ground and your husband is on top of you. It takes a minute or two but your brain reengages and you realize what happened. The noise triggered a memory flashback for your husband. He reacted as he would in combat. People begin to point and stare, but it does not faze you, you talk to him softly, letting him know what happened and where he is until the flashback fades and he is able to focus on the here and now. PTSD effects Families not just individuals so families can help support their veteran and cope with Post-Traumatic Stress by learning what PTSD is, learning to recognize the symptoms and how to help mitigate them and by becoming familiar with the types of PTSD therapy treatment available for assisting the veteran.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened." (Insel, 2008). PTSD is diagnosed by a mental health professional only after the veteran has displayed PTSD symptoms for longer than one month and the symptoms are effecting or interfering with the veteran’s daily life. Most soldiers who disclose feelings of PTSD are glad they did so, but nearly half perceived at least one negative response from a doctor or health care provider they told (Leibowitz, et. al., 2008). Ergo, it is not always easy for a veteran to accept PTSD treatment so be prepared to encourage by letting him know that scientist are continually working on developing and improving ways to cope with PTSD. In 2010, research suggests that therapy administered within a certain time frame after the traumatic event may enhance recovery (Mofils, Raio, Johnson,...